Back pain affects people of all age groups. People who have long working hours along with a busy lifestyle may have back pain. You can get back pain if you lift a heavy object or do any activity too enthusiastically. Continuous sitting on the desk or the computer can cause the pain. Poor posture and stress can cause back pain.
Some other factors that cause the condition are lack of exercise and tension in the muscles. Back pain can be due to trauma, inflammation, infections, congenital and metabolic diseases. In most cases, the doctor prescribes pain medicines and rest for treating back pain. If you have back pain, you must try home remedies. The following home remedies for back pain provide great relief to the patient.
Effective Home Remedies For Back Pain
Ice Pack
Apply ice pack as it reduces the inflammation. It does not allow the passage of pain signals by the nerves to the brain. Fill a plastic bag with ice cubes. Place a thin towel on the skin and place the ice bag above it. Remove the ice bag after twenty minutes. Take a break of half an hour. Use the ice pack for twenty minutes again. This remedy will help you if you do it within twenty-four hours of getting the injury due to which there is back pain.
Heat Application
Heat application is one of the best home remedies for back pain. Heat helps in making the muscles elastic. Fill a tub with hot water. Soak in the tub for twenty minutes. Add some Epsom salt to the tub water. You can also apply heat with a hot towel. Soak a towel in hot water.
Add some salt to the water. Place the towel on the back. You can apply heat with the help of a hot water bottle. Pregnant women should not do this remedy as the heat can result in birth defects and pregnancy problems.
Change the Mattress
Change the mattress you sleep on. Use a firm mattress. If the mattress is soft, it can sag and worsen back problems. If you cannot afford a new mattress, you must put a piece of plywood between the mattress as well as box spring. The thickness of the plywood should be three quarter inch.
Sleep Well
A good sleep at night helps in preventin
g back pain and strain. You must try to sleep on the side.
While sleeping, the knees should be in a flexed position. Put a pillow between the knees. If you sleep on the back, you must put a pillow under the knees.
Massage
Massage is one of the best home remedies for back pain. Get a massage by asking some other person to rub on the back. Lie down on the bed with the face turned downwards. The person who is giving you the massage must massage the back muscles in a kneading motion with knuckles.
You can do the massage with garlic, mint, mustard or eucalyptus oil. Mix little camphor to the oil. You can do garlic massage. For this, heat coconut or sesame oil on slow fire. Add 8 garlic cloves. Cool the mixture. Massage the back with this mixture. You can have the massage done by a massage therapist. Some massage therapists visit the homes of their clients for the massage.
Relaxation
If you have back pain, you must relax. Emotional tension can increase the tightness of the muscles, leading to back pain.
Learn techniques of relaxation. Practice meditation and deep breathing. Close the eyes and take deep and slow breaths. Count backwards starting from 100.
Aspirin
You must take an analgesic like aspirin and ibuprofen. Pregnant women should take medicines only after consulting a doctor. People who are suffering from ulcer should not take aspirin. If you suffer from back pain, you must not take any medicine without consulting a doctor. It is important to have knowledge about the side effects of the medicines.
Use Cushion
If you travel by a vehicle such as car as well as truck, you must use cushion for supporting the back. The driver should use adjustable lumbar support.
To avoid pain, you must lean the back, making an angle of hundred and ten degrees. If you are sitting continuously, you must get up at regular intervals and walk around a little.
Reduce Weight
Overweight people can suffer from back pain. The excess body weight puts pressure on the back. Therefore, overweight patients must reduce the weight so that the back does not have to tolerate the extra load.
Good Posture
Develop a good posture. Avoid sitting in a same position continuously. Avoid stooping while walking and sitting. Try to sit with a straight back. Check the posture in regular intervals and take steps to correct it. Many people get back pain when they bend to lift a heavy object. If you have to lift something, you must bend the knees with the back in a straight position. Avoid twisting the body if you have to lift something. Pregnant women should not lift heavy things during the later phase of the pregnancy. Poor posture is one of the main causes of back pain.
Proper Footwear
Proper footwear helps in preventing back pain. If you have to go for long walks, you must choose comfortable footwear. You should not wear footwear that has high heels. You must use the high heels only when you have to walk for a limited time when travelling by car. You must wear high heels only for social occasion that are unavoidable. Do not use it in daily life on regular basis.
Calcium
Calcium helps in making the bones strong. It provides protection to the spine. If you want to avoid back pain, you must eat foods that contain calcium.
Some foods that are rich in calcium are milk, yogurt, peanuts, green leafy vegetables, cheese, broccoli, tofu, peas, sesame seeds and many other food items.
Vitamin C
If you have back pain, you must eat foods that contain Vitamin C. Some rich sources of Vitamin c are citrus fruits, bell peppers, strawberries, papaya, guava, thyme, parsley, kiwi fruit, tomato, pineapple, and many other foods.
Chamomile Tea
Chamomile is a very good herb for back pain as it soothes the tension of the muscles. You must drink chamomile tea daily. You can take up to three cups of this tea every day.
Caution: Please use Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.
